Year of introduction: 1966 Swedish Air Force (JA 36 "Eldkula" variant), 1972 Belgian Air Force (JA 36 M "Meteore" variant + JA 36 EM trainer) Belgian fleet upgraded to MdM and MdEM standard in 1980, remaining MdM's converted to MdEM trainers in 1996. Length: 39.4 ft; Wingspan: 21.5 ft; Height: 12.3 ft; Thrust-To-Weight-Ratio: 1.6 with drop tanks, 1.8 without; Wing Loading: 11.1 lbs per sq ft with drop tanks, 9.6 lbs without; Top Speed: 464 mph (Mach 0.6) at sea level, 856 mph (Mach 1.26) at 32,000 ft. Initially concieved in the late 1950's with eyes toward a Royal Navy contract that never materialized, Saab heavily redesigned their prototypes in the early 60's, marketing the "Eldkula" (roughly translates to fireball or meteor) as a lighter, cheaper, and STOL-capable alternative to the J 35 for export customers and second line units. Making it's first flight in 1962 and going into serial production in 1964, J 36 was officially adopted as a supplement to the J 35 in 1966, and were eventually phased out in favor of the JA 37 Viggen alongside the J 35. 30 of the planes (24 Ja 36 M fighters, and 6 JA 36 EM trainers) were ordered by Belgium in 1969, with deliveries begining later that year and formal adoption occuring in 1972.